Teen charged with fatally stabbing cat

Published
12:00 am CDT, Thursday, May 22, 2008

WOOD RIVER - An 18-year-old man is facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly stabbing a cat to death and trying to dispose of its body.Joshua M. Thompson, of the 100 block of North First Street, Wood River, was charged Thursday in Madison County Circuit Court with aggravated cruelty to animals for allegedly killing a pet cat. The charges state that Thompson intentionally caused a companion animal to suffer serious injury or death, and that he knowingly stabbed an adult, black, short-haired cat with a knife, causing the cat to die.Thompson's bail has been set at $30,000. Deputy Chief Otis Steward of the Wood River Police Department said Thompson allegedly killed the cat and then attempted to hide the animal's body outside his home on May 6. He said a family member reported the incident.Steward said Thompson did not tell police why he killed the cat - only that the animal had been given to him recently by a friend who was moving out of town. Steward said Thompson seemed disturbed and was taken to a nearby facility for treatment."I think the young man has some mental problems," Steward said. "It's concerning, though, when someone kills an animal like that."Following the investigation, Steward said police submitted the information to the Madison County State's Attorney's Office for review and to determine what charges should be filed against the teenager.